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Back to To the Point

To the Point

Who Should Pay for Iraq's Reconstruction?

The high price of oil has Iraq rolling in money, but much of that new wealth stays in foreign bank accounts, while the US rebuilds the country. Americans are paying six times more than Iraqis for roads, schools and power plants, as well as the refineries and pipelines for oil production.

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By Warren Olney • May 12, 2014 • 1 min read

The high price of oil has Iraq rolling in money, but much of that new wealth stays in foreign bank accounts, while the US rebuilds the country. Americans are paying six times more than Iraqis for roads, schools and power plants, as well as the refineries and pipelines for oil production. That's according to the Government Accountability Office, an arm of the Congress. With a sagging economy, how long can the US afford that kind of money? Why isn’t it more effective? Will Iraq’s oil wealth mean future profits for private investors? We talk with an American entrepreneur who's building power plants and amusement parks.

  • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

    Warren Olney

    former KCRW broadcaster

  • Sonya Geis with wavy brown hair wearing a black dress with red accents and decorative earrings against a white background.

    Sonya Geis

    Senior Managing Editor

  • KCRW placeholder

    Andrea Brody

    Senior Producer, KCRW's Life Examined and To the Point podcast

  • KCRW placeholder

    Linda J. Bilmes

    Harvard University

  • KCRW placeholder

    Ali Allawi

    former Iraqi Minister of Trade, Defense and Finance

  • KCRW placeholder

    Ginger Cruz

    Deputy Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction

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